Pumpkins in the Park 5K

Kevin suggested I should run this race as his boss and co-worker were going to be there. So I talked Sueann into it, not that it was a hard thing to do :) We got to the race site, then Sueann called, we are almost 50 miles off and with an hour to go her husband hadn't gotten home yet. I was freaked she wouldn't make it. I didn't get in a much needed warm up to get my hip loose before the race as Kevin felt I needed to watch the kids, they wanted to play and he didn't want to keep an eye on them.
Sueann gets there within 2 minutes of the gun going off. We head out, I'm running strong, I feel good, I was shocked at the pace my Garmin was showing, I'm varying between 8:30 - 9:40 on my pace for the first mile. My hip popped, fear hit me and I stopped and walked. The hip loosened up, I ran, then walked, then ran, then walked, the walks getting longer as starting back up caused more pain than when I was walking or running, both were bothering me, the hip was tight. I don't know how I stayed ahead of her, except for the fact my running pace was so good, the walking pace varied between 14-16. It was hot too. The last mile or so was along the intercoastal and was nice to look at. I managed to run the end but not a sprint. I got lost in the crowd for awhile limping around, let my hip cool off, found everyone and then took the boys over for the kids run. After the kids run I stretched only my hip, man it felt good to do. The drive home was quiet. We stopped at a drive in and got sandwiches and then headed home were I iced my hip.

As for my injury, I talked to the doc, the pain has spread to my gluteus medius, I'm on treatment and massages to bring the extreme tightness down to a normal level in my left hip, it's moving into my lower back. Docs orders are no running, although he OKd me for the race Sunday, then 2 weeks of nothing, no stairs that can be avoided, no strength training, no running, take it real easy. I will more than likely walk my first half marathon, better to walk than try to run with NO training and injure myself worse or again. If I'm cleared to run for the 1/2, it will be all intervals, 2-3 run 1 walk.